Washington has one of the strongest vote-by-mail systems in the country. But recent changes to U.S. Postal Service transportation operations mean some mail may not receive a postmark on the same day it is mailed, raising concerns for ballots returned close to Election Day.

That matters because under Washington law, a ballot returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day to count.

President Trump has continued his efforts to restrict voting by mail. While those efforts face challenges in court, Washington's election process remains unchanged. Still, voters should know their options and make a plan before ballots arrive.

With ballots arriving next month, here are a few things to consider as you make your plan to vote. But before anything else, check to make sure your voter registration is up to date.

Today is National Voter Registration Day, which is a good reminder to take a few minutes and check your voter registration. If you have moved, changed your name, are newly eligible, or had a change in your circumstances since the last election, your voter registration may need to be updated.

We are 50 days from Election Day. That means we have 50 opportunities to make a difference.

Each day between now and November 3 is a chance to talk with a neighbor, bring someone into this campaign, and make sure voters across Northwest Washington know what is at stake.